Local bank presents $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity

Wednesday, December 19, 2012 5:52 AM

F&M CEO Dan Christianson presents a symbolic $20,000 check to Megan Grebe, community outreach coordinator for Habitat for Humanity Winona-Fillmore Counties. The donation was a 50-cent for every $1 raised in Fillmore County the past two years.

F&M Community Bank of Preston recently presented Habitat for Humanity Winona - Fillmore Counties with a check for $20,000. The donation comes after a two-year matching challenge. In 2011 and 2012, the bank matched 50-cents of every $1 raised toward the Habitat home being built in Harmony, up to $10,000 each year.

"We believe it's important to support organizations like Habitat. Our missions are similar in that we both want to make the communities we serve better places in which to live and work," said bank CEO Dan Christianson.

The bank challenged the Fillmore County communities to raise $40,000, and the Fillmore County communities accepted. Over the past two years, the communities have raised over $40,000 with fundraisers such as the Harmony Hustle, March Meltdown, Bowl-a-thon, Golf Fore Homes, various bake sales, garage sales and other fundraisers.

"We are so grateful to F&M Community Bank for its continued support over the past two years," said Megan Grebe, community outreach coordinator at Habitat for Humanity Winona - Fillmore Counties. "Fillmore County has been so supportive of our building efforts in Harmony, and we are excited to continue work on the Harmony house throughout the winter."

Next year, the Harmony Habitat house will be completed. Teri Root will purchase the home for a 30-year, zero-percent interest mortgage. Root and her five children have been helping to build the house, along with Fillmore County community members and other volunteers.

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